Drawer measuring-box.



No. 758,827. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904. N. W. DAVIS. DRAWER MEASURING BOX.

NTTE STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

DRAWER MEASURING-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 758,827, dated May 3, 1904.

Application filed May 12, 1903- Serial No. 166,859. (No model.)

To all 7071/0111, it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON W. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port J of ferson, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Drawer Measuring-Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention refers to that class of receptacles for holding powders in small quantities, so that they may be packed with economy in space and weight for shipment to merchants, and where its contents are to be measured out in small quantities by the consumer. It is a combination of few parts intended to be used but oncethatis, not to be refilled my object being to provide a simple mechanical device to be used in combination with boxes or receptacles of various shapes or with covers, caps, or corks of receptacles that will accurately measure the dry contents as it removes the same from the receptacle without waste or without removal of covers, caps, or corks, except by the device which also closes the receptacle after the measured quantity has been removed, and a continued operation of the drawer or device removes the entire contents of the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a box with my invention attached and both ends fastened in place. Fig. 2 represents drawer C as it is stamped with lips f f and end D with lip a. Fig. 3 represents lug g. Fig. 4 represents an end view of the outside of a box-cover and the outer end D of drawer C. Fig. 5 represents the device attached to the box-cover with the box below. Fig. 6 represents the device attached to the box with the box-cover above. Fig. 7 represents avertical section of abottle or jar with device or drawer attached to the cork or cap and inserted in the neck of a bottle or jar.

Describing the drawings in detail and referring to Fig. 1, O represents the Sliding drawer open its entire length and formed to the shape of box X, so that the edges and bottom of drawer O are held close and hard against the inside of box X by lugs g g and extend through opening H in end E nearly the entire length of box X, drawer O having its end (Z so arranged as to form a part of end E of box X. Lip a is attached to the closed or outer end of drawer C and serves to fasten drawer C when closed and may be secured to end E of box X by soldering or by pasting a label over lip 11 after the box is filled, as is shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, lip a is bent to form a handle by which to open or close drawer O after the seal or label has been broken. Drawer O has two lips ff, one on each of its side edges, to prevent its sliding out its entire length and to cause it to stop at the properplace by striking against lugs g g and for the purpose of measuring a certain quantity of the contents of box X. Lugs g g are stamped in the side of or are soldered or riveted to the inside of box X. Drawer C may be the same length of box X or only a part of its length. Drawer O conforms to the shape of box X, also with opening H in endEof box X, end D of drawer O being a partof end E of box X and box X or its end E being a part of the device. Opening H, through which drawer C slides, is a part of box X or its end E and helps to hold drawer O in position, and the straight side of opening H forms the part of the device that strikes off even the contents of drawer Gas it is pulled out through opening H. Drawer C may be used in the same way through the cover of the box as is shown in Fig. 5, in which case the cover forms the part of the de vice and the device a part of the cover, or through the bottom with the same results and effect as shown in Fig. 6, and with a bottle or jar, as shown by the sectional view in Fig. 7. In this case the cork or cap form the same combination as is shown with the cover in Fig. 5.

The advantage over all other known devices is that the drawer O is held close to the side of the box or receptacle and slides along the inside of the box or receptacle or bottle-neck and through one end of the top, bottom, cover, or cork. Thereby drawer Cis always at the very bottom of the box or receptacle when turned drawer side downward, as shown in Fig. 1. Hence the contents of box X must fall into the drawer C, as it has no longitudinal cover and is open its entire length within box or receptacle, drawer C being filled by a turn of the boxX when laid on its side. The drawer C is then pulled out. Then by another turn of the box X the contents of drawer C are deposited in any desired place without shaking the box X, as the contents must fall from drawer C.

This device is especially adapted to packages, bottles, jars, and boxesand for receptacles containing tooth and toilet powders. It measures culinary powders accurately without the use of a spoon or other article and prevents waste incurred by the removal of covers. The device is especially adapted to receptacles containing tooth-powder, as it measures and removes the contents which can be laid on the brush lengthwise without shaking, sprinkling, or spilling, as is incident to the use of present devices. After using, drawer G of box X, as shown in Fig. 1, is easily closed or falls back when the box is placed in an upright position and makes the same tight. In smaller packages, bottles, or boxes box Xis easily held with one hand and drawer O is pulled out with a finger of the same hand. The contents are then deposited by a turn of the box or receptacle with the same hand,

leaving the other hand free to hold another receptacle or brush.

The device may be made of any material; but I prefer tin nickeled or polished.

Referring to Fig. 1, when made in connection with a box I prefer to stamp the opening H in end E of box X and of the same shape as drawer C, and to make the drawer C the same shape as box X, with end E to it and cover opening in end E, leaving lip a on end D of drawer C and cutting slits f f by the same operation. The lugs g g on the inside of box X may be made when the box is stamped, or may be fastened in by soldering or riveting. The drawer C is then put through the opening H, and the lips ff on the longitudinal edges of drawer C are bent in to prevent drawer C from coming entirely out through opening H.

Referring to Fig. 6', if the lugs g g be on the inside of box X itself the end E, through which drawer C slides, is then fastened on box X, and lip a on the outer end of drawer C is then fastened to end E of box X. The other end, L, of box is then fastened on. In this case the box or receptacle is filled with the device attached, and the box need have no cover, but is sealed not to be opened, except by the use of the device, and the device is a part of and used in combination with the re ceptacle to which it is attached. To make the connection with a cover, cap, or cork is the same operation, except that lugs g g are fastened to the rim of cover, cap, or cork, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The receptacle is filled from the top without the device, then inside the receptacle, and last, the cover, cap, or cork, with the device attached, is put on and fastened. In this case the device is a part and combination with the cover, cap, or cork.

The advantages of my invention are many. In other devices inside of the receptacles there are inside casings, hopper-shaped sides or bottom for a trough to move in, scrapers or skimmers to level off the contents when the trough is pulled out or pushed in, all of which require room, increase weight and expense to the manufacturer. In my invention I do away with the above objections by using the inside walls and main body of the receptacle for a slide and inner support for the drawer to move in, and the end of the receptacle through which the drawer slides forms a scraper or skimmer for leveling off the contents of the drawer when pulled out.

Another advantage of my invention is where other inventions have extra covers to place over the inner covers in the end of the trough when it is'closed. It has been one of my intentions in my invention to overcome the cost and inconvenience of any extra covers by making the end of the drawer form a part of the end or cover of the receptacle with the lip or handle which lies over against said end of the receptacle when the drawer is pushed in and before the receptacle has been opened for use by the consumer, thus making a flush end, so that the boxes may be set one upon the top of another and packed or stored with the same convenience as without the device and saving the trouble of removing a cover in order to pull out the drawer, saving also the cost of an extra cover and its necessary room and weight when packed for shipment.

Another advantage of my invention over other devices is where the devices have drawers or troughs against the inside of the device and which drawers or troughs pull out in the center or one side of the center of the box, thereby leaving room for the contents of the box to get under and around the device and clog it, so that it cannot be used. These are filled with the contents of the box by various rollings and dumps of the box and may be pulled out upside down, spilling the contents,

thereby making it necessary to turn toward the top or necessary to have something to look at to designate when the drawer is in the right position to be pulled out or pushed in. These objections are overcome in my invention, because the drawer conforms with and its curved side is held hard and close against the inside of the box, making it impossible for the contents to get in or around the device to clog it, and the drawer being filled with the contents of the box only when held drawer side down and having a flat lip or handle by which to pull it out when in said position. It is unnecessary to have anything to look at to designate when the drawer is in the proper position to be pulled out. Consequently it can be operated without seeing or looking for letters, words, or other designations.

Another advantage of my invention over others is where the drawers or troughs in other devices having ends with rims to form a cover for a collar or neck attached to the end of the device can not be dumped out clean, as the rim which extends over the top of the open part of the drawer will hold more or less of the contents, and thus prevent the use of all that is taken out in the drawer. I overcome this objection by having the outer end of the drawer with no obstruction whatever to prevent the contents falling out, leaving the drawer entirely empty when dumped.

Over other devices where there is a skimmer or scraper extending into the interior of the box or over the top of the drawer or having collars which extend beyond the outside of the box and over the top of the drawer, forming a top to a part of the drawer, so that the contents of the drawer are not cutoff accurately, as more or less of the contents may fall back through the covered opening, thereby the measurement is made incorrect, my advantage is that my device is open its entire length, and the top or straight edge of the opening in the end of the box through which the drawer slides forms a cutting edge with no obstructions whatever, so that when the drawer is pulled out and the box turned to dump the contents of the drawer the contents are accurately cut by this straight edge in the end of the box, and the part of the drawer which is inside the box dumps its contents inside the box and always inside the cutting edge, and the part of the drawer which is outside of the box dumps the exact amount of its contents which shows outside of the end of the box when the drawer is pulled out until the lips ff strike against lugs g g, or if a part of the quantity is wanted it may be pulled part way out and dumped with the same effect.

Another advantage of my invention is over devices which have drawers and troughs large enough and into which it is intended that a damp tooth-brush should be dipped into the powder the drawer contains when it is pulled out. Hence when the drawer is pushed in the damp powder is returned into the inside of the box and mixes with the dry powder, forming lumps and spoiling the good powder and rendering the device useless by clogging. One of the principal objects of my invention is to avoid the uncleanliness of dipping a damp brush or unwashed spoon into the powder that is to be used in cooking. Thereby my device is a saving of time combined with cleanliness, and consequently healthfulness. For toothpowders it will be almost impossible and very inconvenient to get powder on a damp brush by dipping the latter into the trough, as the quantity-required each time is so small that it will be necessary to manufacture the device less in width than the ordinary tooth-brush, and it is not my desire to claim anything for the purpose of dipping brushes or spoons into the box for removing the contents; but the reverse is my whole intention.

1 am aware that prior to my invention there were tooth-powder boxes with sliding troughs having funnel-shaped heads for getting powders into the trough, also that there are storage-boxes that have extra hopper-shaped bottoms, and also that there are measuring cases and cabinets with scoops and troughs for the purpose of being placed upon floors or shelves as fixtures intended for use by merchants in measuring powders as sold to the customers. I wish to claim no such combination.

I claim 1. A measuring and removing device in combination with a box or receptacle of the class described, consisting of a sliding drawer having an open top for the reception of a quantity of the contents contained within the box or receptacle when the latter is held drawer side down; said drawer having all its longitudinal, outer walls to conform to the shape of the inner walls of the box or receptacle, and in connection with means to hold the outer, longitudinal walls of the drawer close and hard against the inner walls of the box or receptacle; the said drawer being adapted to move on the inside walls of the box or receptacle and in connection with an opening in one of its ends or cover.

2. A measuring device in combination with a box or receptacle of the class specified, consisting of a sliding drawer having its bottom and side walls to conform in shape to the walls of the box or receptacle, and adapted to move in the same in connection with an opening in one of its ends or cover, and situated close to the edge or rim thereof; the said drawer having an end which forms a part of the end or cover of the box or receptacle, and which closes said opening when the drawer is closed; and in connection with a lip on said end of the drawer which fastens the two parts mentioned together the same as one and flush with each other.

3. A measuring and removing device in combination with a box or receptacle of theclass described, consisting of a sliding drawer in connection with an opening in the end of the box or receptacle; the openingrsituated close to the edge or rim thereof; the said drawer being of the same shape and conforming to the shape of the walls of the box or receptacle and adjusted to move within the box or receptacle along said walls, and having lips, f' f, on its longitudinal edges, and end, D, with lip or handle, A, attached thereto.

4. A measuring and removing device in combination with a box or receptacle, consisting of a sliding drawer in connection with lugs, g g, for the purpose of holding the drawer in position, in connection with an opening in the end of the box or receptacle through which the drawer slides, for the purpose of holding the drawer hard and close against the inside of the box.

5. A measuring and removing device in combination with a box of the class described,con sisting of 'a sliding drawer having its bottom and side walls to conform in shape to the walls of the box, and adapted to move in the same in connection with an opening in one of its ends or cover, and situated close to the edge or rim thereof; the said drawer having an end which forms apart of the end or cover of the box, and which closes said opening therein when the drawer is closed, and in connection with a lip on said end of the drawer which fastens the two parts mentioned together the same as one and flush with each other; the same as without the device, substantially as set forth and described.

6. Ameasuring and removing device in combination with a box of the class described,con sisting of a sliding drawer in connection with an opening in the end of the box; the opening situated close to the edge or rim thereof; the said drawer being of the same shape and conforming to the shape of the walls of the box, and adjusted to move within the box along said walls, and having lips, ff, on its slides, and for the purpose of holding the drawer hard and close against the inside of the box.

8. A measuring device in combination with a cover to a box or receptacle of the class described, consisting of a sliding drawer in connection with opening in said cover, having its bottom and side walls to conform to the shape of said opening; the opening being situated close to the rim of the cover and said drawer having an end which forms a part of the cover and closes the opening therein when the drawer is closed, and in connection withalip on said drawer which fastens the two parts together as one and flush with each other; saiddrawer being adapted to move on the inside of the box or receptacle when the cover is placed in position on the box or receptacle, and in connection with an opening in the cover, as set forth in specification.

9. A measuring device in combination with a cover having lips, ff, on its longitudinal edges, and lip or handle, A, attached to end, D, substantially as set forth and for the purpose of specifying. I

10. A measuring and removing device in combination with a cover, consisting of a sliding drawer in connection with lugs, g g, for the purpose of holding the drawer in position, in connection with an opening in the end of the cover-through which the drawer slides, and for the purpose of holding the drawer hard and close against the inside of the cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NELSON W. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

LEWIS O. DAVIS, WM. CHUBBUcK. 

